Spatter control apparatus for ranges



March 17, 1970 OPDAHL 3,500,813

SPATTER CONTROL APPARATUS FOR RANGES Filed Se 1;. 11. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE E IAYVENTOR GEE/74D z: crow/4 March 17, 1970 (5.5. OPDAHL SPATTER CONTROL APPARATUS FOR RANGES 2 She ts-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1968 FIE'Z 4 5 r a m s a FIE? S United States Patent 3,500,813 SPATTER CONTROL APPARATUS FOR RANGES Gerald E. Opdahl, Litchfield, Minn. (R.C.A. BMEWS, Box 222, A.P.0. New York, N.Y. 09023) Filed Sept. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 759,063 Int. Cl. F24c 15/12, 3/00, 15/20 US. Cl. 126-39 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Spatter control apparatus for electric and gas ranges that includes a bafile member extending around the pan to be heated on a range heating element and having a deflector portion for directing the flow of gas downwardly into the pan. A fan forces air between the pan and bafile member at a sufiiciently high velocity to direct most of the spatters back into the pan. In one embodiment, no structure is provided between the fan wheel and the heating element, while in the gas range embodiment there is provided a second baflle member between the pan and fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Spatter control apparatus for electric or gas ranges that includes a fan beneath the heating element and a baffle for directing a flow of air induced by the fan upwardly between the baflle member and the pan and thence downwardly into the pan.

In the prior art, various types of kitchen hoods, with or without fans have been provided above the stove for drawing off the vaporized greases and etc. that result during the frying of foods. However, such prior art apparatus has not provided satisfactory for eliminating spattering of hot greases or preventing the hot grease spatters from landing on the stove in areas surrounding the heating element and on other equipment. Additionally, at times the hot grease spatters move outwardly of the periphery of the pan, ignite and result in a fire. In order to control the spatters of hot grease and etc. during a cooking or trying operation, this invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Spatter control apparatus for an electric or gas range that includes a fan below the heating element, and a baffle member for directing the flow of air resulting from the operation of the fan upwardly along the side of the pan and thence downwardly into the pan for directing spatters back into the pan. For a gas range, a second baflle member is provided intermediate the burner and the fan to prevent the flow of air induced by the fan substantially in terfering with the gas flame of the burner; and conduits are provided for conducting air exterior of the first baffle member to adjacent the burner and structure is provided to permit the exhaust of the gases adjacent the burner into the area between the first bafile member and the pan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 11 of FIGURE 2 to illustrate the first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a range, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIGURE 1 to show part of the fan members and the relationship thereto relative the inlet opening of the baflle member;

FIGURE 4 is a. view similar to that of FIGURE 1 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 other than it illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 4 to more clearly illustrate the structure for exhausting gases from adjacent the burner, said view not showing the pan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in particular to FIGURES 1-3, there is illustrated a portion of an electric stove generally designated 10 that includes a vertically intermediate panel 11, side panels 12, a front panel 13, and a rear panel 14 to form a well in which the apparatus to be described is located. Within the aforementioned well there is located an electric heating element 15 of conventional construction, the leads for supplying power to the heating element and the member for supporting the heating element in a vertical condition relative the bottom panel not being illustrated.

Located within the aforementioned well is a first baflle member, generally designated 17 that includes an annular, generally vertically extending wall portion 18. Wall portion 18 extends to a higher elevation than the pan 25 that is to be heated by the element 15 and to a substantially lower elevation than said element. The part of the wall portion 18 horizontally adjacent the pan is horizontally spaced from the pan side wall to provide an annular clearance space. The bafile 17 also includes a bottom wall 19 having a peripheral edge integrally joined to the lower edge of wall 18, and is supported on appropriate support member 16 that is appropriately secured to one or more of the walls 12-14 at a substantial elevation above the panel 11. Integrally joined to the inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall 19 is an upright annular flange 22, flange 22 defining an inlet opening 23 that is generally centrally located relative the heating element and therebeneath. Integrally joined to the upper edge of the wall 18 is a curved generally annular deflector portion 20 that in vertical cross section first curves upwardly and horizontally inwardly, and thence is reversely curved to extend inwardly in a downward direction. The deflector portion 20 has an inner peripheral edge 21 of a sufliciently large diameter to permit the pan 25 being moved therethrough, edge 21 being at a higher elevation than the top edge of the pan. Further, it is to be mentioned that the curvature of the deflector portion is such that air infiowing upwardly between the pan and wall portion 18 will be deflected downwardly into the interior of the pan. The bafile member 17 has an opening (not shown) for the leads and the support (not shown) for element 15 to extend through, such an opening forming a close fit with the leads and support.

For supporting the pan above the element 15, advantageously there is provided a spider support member 27 that is mounted within and by baffle member -17 at a higher elevation than the burner.

Mounted on the panel 11 is a fan, generally designated 30, having a conventional motor that includes a motor shaft 31. The motor shaft extends upwardly through the opening defined by the flange 22 and its upper end mounts the flat plate 31 of the fan wheel. The fan wheel includes a plurality of vanes 32 and an annular plate 33 joined to the edges of the vanes opposite plate 31. As may be noted from FIGURE 1, the flange 22 extends upwardly into the annular plate 33 so that substantially all the air drawn into the inlet 23 is forced radially outwardly by the vanes intermediate plates 31, 33. Even though a particular type of fan has been described, it is to be understood that other type fans can be utilized as long as the flow of air through the baflle member is at a sufliciently high velocity to direct the grease spatters back into the pan.

Using the first embodiment of the invention, the pan 25 sits on the support 27 above the heating element, and the power to the heating element and the fan are turned on. As a result, air is drawn from exterior of the baffle member 17 to pass upwardly through the inlet 23, thence through the fan wheel, then outwardly to flow upwardly along the wall portion of the baflle member in the annular clearance space between said bafile member and the pan, and thence be deflected downwardly by the portion 20 toward the interior of the pan. As a result, substantially all of the spatters that tend to move upwardly above the upper edge of the pan are directed back down into the pan.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, the second embodiment of the invention, generally designated 40, is utilized with a gas range, generally designated 41. The gas range has a well 41a that may be of the same construction as that described with reference to the first embodiment. Located within the well is a baffle member generally designated 43 that is supported by member 67 that is mounted on the panels defining wall 41a. The baflle member 43 includes a generally annular vertically extending first wall portion 44 that has an upper edge located at a higher elevation than the upper edge of a pan 45 that is to be heated by the gas burner (heating element) 46 of the range. The wall 44 extends to a lower elevation than the burner and has its lower edge integrally joined to the outer peripheral edge of the annular boom wall 47. The inner edge of the bottom wall is joined to the lower edge of an upright flange 48, flange 48 extending upwardly into the fan wheel of the fan 30 in a manner similar to that described with reference to the first embodiment. A generally annular deflector 51 has its outer edge joined to the upper edge of the wall portion 44 and has an inner peripheral edge 52 that is of a greater diameter than the maximum diameter of the pan 45 whereby the pan may be readily moved through the apenture defined by edge 52. Deflectorportion 51 in vertical cross section is curved to extend first upwardly and inwardly, and thence downwardly and inwardly so as to direct the air passing between the annular space defined by the pan and the adjacent part of wall 44 down into the interior of the pan.

In order to prevent the operation of the fan 30 from interfering with the flame of burner 46, there is provided a second baffle member having a bottom wall portion 55 vertically intermediate the fan wheel and the burner, the diameter of the bottom wall portion preferably being substantially larger than the diameter of the fan wheel and the diameter of the burner. The second baflle member also includes a vertically extending wall 56 that has its lower edge joined to the outer edge of the wall 55 and that has an upper edge at a higher elevation than the bottom of the pan 45.

In order to mount the second baffle member 55, 56 within the first baffle member 17, and to permit the free flow of air to the interior of the second baffle member, there are provided a plurality of conduits 58 that at their outlet ends are attached to the second baflfle member and at their inlet ends to the baffle member 17. Conduits 58 at their inlet ends open to the well exterior of the baflie member 53 at a location sufliciently spaced from aperture 49 defined by flange 48 to minimize the likelihood of the fan drawing air through the conduits. The outlet ends of the conduits open to the interior of the second baflle member vertically adjacent the periphery of the burner. As may be in part noted from FIGURE 4, the conduits 58 are circumferentially spaced around the fan. wheel.

Joined to the upper edge portion of wall 56 is a generally horizontal annular plate 60 for supporting the pan vertically above the flame of the gas burner. A plurality of circumferentially spaced exhaust conduits 61 at their one ends open to the interior of the second baflle member vertically adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the gas flame, and at their opposite ends open upwardly along the side wall of the pan 45. The conduits 61 are attached to the plate 60, and are provided for exhausting gas from the chamber formed by the second baffle member, plate 60 and the pan, said chamber being enclosed other than for the conduits opening thereto. Since the outlets of the conduits 61 open upwardly, the exhaust gas flows upwardly along with the air flow resulting from the operation of the fan 30. The conduits 58 and 61 are of diameters and in suflicient number to provide adequate flow of air for supporting the combustion of gas from the gas burner.

The gas burner 46 may be supported by a pipe 46a (or other structure) that extends through appropriate apertures in the first and second baffle members, pipe 46a also supplying gas to the burner. In using the apparatus of the second embodiment, burner 46 is turned on, pan 45 placed on plate 60 above the burner, and power to the fan 30 turned on. As the gas flame burn-s, air passes through conduits 58 to adjacent the burner, while the exhaust gases flow outwardly to the conduits 61. Further, the fan 30 causes flow of air through the aperture 49, thence upwardly through the annular space between walls 56, 44, thence further upwardly through the annular space between the pan side wall and wall 44; and thence deflected downwardly into the pan by deflector portion 51 to force spatters back into the pan 45.

Advantageously, both the embodiments of the invention may have a notched out portion provided in the deflector member and the adjacent vertical baflle wall portion such as shown by notched out portion 44a of the second embodiment in the event the pan has an elongated handle extending outwardly in a generally horizontal direction. The notched out portion is of a size to permit the handle 45a of the pan 45 extending outwardly therethrough, and of a horizontal width slightly greater than the corresponding dimension of the handle. Also to be mentioned is that the lower end portions of the baffle members 17, 43 may be of a more rounded bowl shape than illustrated in the drawings, for example, such that there would be no sharp break between the bottom wall and the generally vertically extending wall as illustrated. However, an important feature of the invention is that the deflector portion be curved to deflect the flow of air at least at a slight angle in a downward direction. Otherwise, the spatters would not be directed back into the pan.

Also to be mentioned is that either supports 16, 47 or the range walls have openings therethrough to permit the flow of air adjacent the fan motor. As illustrated, the supports have openings horizontally between the baffle memhers and the vertical walls of the range wells, and the vertical extending walls of the baflle members 17, 43 are spaced from the vertical walls of the range walls so that air may flow downwardly to adjacent the fan.

In using the apparatus of this invention, a pan was provided above an electric burner having a battle member such as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the pan partially filled with grease, and after the grease was boiling hot, 2. small clump of snow was dropped into the grease. This resulted in a loud noise, however, no grease spatters appeared on paper that was placed in horizontal surrounding relationship to the burner.

What is claimed is:

1. For directing spatters back into a pan being heated on a heating element of a stove, the combination of a baflfle member having a first wall portion extending around said heating element, and extending to a higher elevation than the pan being heated by the heating element and to a lower elevation that the heating element, said first wall portion having an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, a bottom wall portion having a peripheral edge joined to said first wall portion lower edge, and being at a lower elevation than said heating element, said bottom wall portion having an inlet opening, and peripheral deflector means for directing gas that flows through said inlet opening and between the pan and first wall portion into the pan, said deflector means having a central opening of a larger size than the pan to permit the pan being passed therethrough and a peripheral edge joined to said first wall portion upper edge, and rotary fan means for producing a flow of gas through said inlet opening and up along the first wall portion at a sufiiciently high velocity to direct spatters into the pan.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said fan means comprises a fan blade located vertically between the burner and bottom wall portion, motor means at a lower elevation than the bottom wall portion, and first means for drivingly connecting the motor means to the fan blade.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said baffle member includes an upright flange surrounding the inlet opening and having an upper edge, and that the fan means comprises an annual plate having a central opening of a larger dimension than said flange, said annular plate being at a lower elevation than the flange upper edge and having the flange extended into its central opening, and that said first means includes a plate, said blade extending between and being joined to said plates.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that a pan support member is mounted by the bafile member above the heating element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that there is provided baflle means intermediate the fan means and the heating element for directing the flow of gas from the inlet away from the heating element and conduit means opening through the baflle member and baffle means for conducting gas from exterior of the baflie member to adjacent the burner.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that the baflie means comprises a somewhat bowl shaped plate having a peripheral edge horizontally intermediate the first wall portion and the pan being heated by said heating element and at a higher elevation than the burner.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that there is provided exhaust means for supporting the pan and conducting gas away from the heating element and to the space between the first wall portion and the pan, said exhaust being mounted by the baflle means.

8. For an electric or gas range having a heating element to control spattering from a pan being heated by said heating element, spatter control apparatus comprising a baflle member having a first wall portion extending around the pan and horizontally spaced therefrom, said first wall portion extending to a lower elevation than the heating element and to a higher elevation than the pan, said first Wall portion having an upper edge, and a deflector portion having one edge joined to said first wall portion upper edge and a terminal edge of a smaller diameter than said one edge and of a larger diameter than the pan, said deflector portion being curved downwardly to direct a flow of gas into the interior of the pan, first means for causing a flow of air upwardly between the first wall portion and the pan and thence be deflected by the deflector portion to direct spatters back into the pan.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the first means includes a fan vertically below the heating element, and that there is provided a second bafile member having a second wall portion between the fan and the heating element and a third wall portion having a lower edge joined to the second wall portion and extending upwardly to a higher elevation than the heating element, said third wall portion being located horizontally between the heating element and the first wall portion and extending around the heating element and conduits having inlets opening through the first mentioned baflle member and an outlet opening through the second baflle member for conducting air from exterior of the first mentioned bafile member to adjacent the heating element, and means for conducting gases away from the heating element and discharging gases in a generally upward direction intermediate the pan and the first wall portion.

10. For an electric range having a heating element to control spattering from a panvbeing heated by said heating element, spatter control apparatus comprising a baflie member having a first wall portion extending around the pan and horizontally spaced therefrom, said first wall portion extending to a lower elevation than the heating element and to a higher elevation than the pan, said first wall portion having an upper edge, and a deflector portion having one edge joined to said first wall portion upper edge and a terminal edge of a smaller diameter than said one edge and of a larger diameter than the pan, said deflector portion being curved downwardly to direct a flow of gas into the interior of the pan, and fan means for causing an upward flow of air between the pan and first wall portion and along the deflector portion at a sufliciently high velocity to direct spatters back into the pan being heated by the heating element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,085,511 6/1937 Ross et a1.

2,674,991 4/ 1954 Schaefer.

2,920,615 1/1960' Vacval.

3,002,513 10/ 1961 Morasch 126299 CHARLES J. MYHRE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 126299 @3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,500,813 pated March 17, 1970 Inventofls) Gerald E Opdahl It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 3, line 31, "boom" should be --bottom--. Column 5,

line'22, "arinual" should be -annular--.

SIGNED AND SEALED JuL14I970 Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Ir. mm' 3; 55mm, JR. Attesting Officer Gomlssioner of Patents 

